Learning Theory

Question 1

Fixed Interval

Answer 1

A fixed interval schedule is when a dog is reinforced for a behavior after a set amount of time has passed. For example, while teaching a down-stay you reward the dog every five seconds.

Question 2

Rate of response for fixed interval

Answer 2

Rate of response can be poor as there is no incentive to do extra work, the reward will always be the same. Rate of response should increase closer to reward time.

Question 3

Emitted behavior

Answer 3

A behavior that a dog voluntarily offers on its own. Used in operant conditioning.

Question 4

Antecedent

Answer 4

A stimulus present in the environment before the behavior. Verbal cue, sight of another dog, doorbell.

Question 5

What are the four stages of learning?

Answer 5

Acquisition, fluency, generalization, maintenance

Question 6

What are the pros and cons of luring?

Answer 6

Pros - easy way to get a behavior and builds in a visual cue
Cons - can create a dog that relies on the presence of food to perform a behavior

Question 7

Negative punishment

Answer 7

Removing something desirable to decrease the likelihood of a behavior. For example, ignoring a dog that is jumping.

Question 8

Desensitization

Answer 8

Presenting a stimulus at a low enough level that the dog can stay under threshold and not respond to it.

Question 9

Elicited behavior

Answer 9

Prompted by luring or molding

Question 10

Cons of punishment

Answer 10

Learned irrelevance, owner directed aggression, learned helplessness. Can increase variability of behavior.

Question 11

The premack principle

Answer 11

A high probability behavior, something the dog wants to do, can be used to reinforce a low probability behavior. For example, the dog must sit before going outside.

Question 12

Cons of the premack principle

Answer 12

Unintended behavior chains. Make sure you allow the dog to make the choice to do the less likely behavior instead of asking them to do it so the behaviors become linked.

Question 13

Prompting

Answer 13

Anything that follows the cue to help the dog learn the criteria.

Question 14

Learned irrelevance

Answer 14

The dog has learned to ignore things that have or had no meaning to them or stops responding to a specific stimulus because it does not have a particular significance that is relevant to the dog. Also known as pre-exposure effect.

Question 15

Primary reinforcer

Answer 15

Food, water, anything that is needed for survival. Food activates the parasympathetic nervous system which can calm the dog and make them less fearful, making the training experience enjoyable.

Question 16

Continuous reinforcement (CRF)

Answer 16

A reinforcement schedule in which behavior is reinforced each time it occurs.

Question 17

Extinction

Answer 17

The process of withholding reinforcers that maintain a behavior. This must be related to a behavior that was previously reinforced. For example, a dog has been talked to, given attention, and treats when it jumps in an effort to reduce the behavior, but all the dog knows is that it gets rewards.

Question 18

Extinction burst

Answer 18

The phenomena of behavior temporarily or briefly getting worse, not better, when a previously rewarded behavior is not rewarded.

Question 19

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 19

Behavior that is affected by extinction that recurs in the future when the trigger is presented again. A transient increase in behavior.

Question 20

Criteria

Answer 20

Specific, trainer-defined responses wanted. The instant the dog achieves the criterion, it is rewarded.

Question 21

Temporary criteria

Answer 21

The beginning steps of an exercise towards performing a command that is new to the dog.

Question 22

Permanent criteria

Answer 22

The finished product, the final goal. Fluency.

Question 23

Random reinforcement

Answer 23

Reinforcing the desired behavior in a random manner. Keeps the dog guessing and working for a reward. An example of this is people playing slot machines, not knowing if each time they will win, but still play regardless because of the few times they win.

Question 24

Differential reinforcement

Answer 24

Rewarding only the best examples of the desired behavior.

Question 25

Limited hold

Answer 25

A variation of differential reinforcement, the trainer is concentrating on rewarding the criterion of speed of response.

Question 26

Jackpot

Answer 26

An unusually large or valuable, unexpected reward

Question 27

Superstitious behavior

Answer 27

Coincidental learning of an irrelevant behavior along with the desired one.

Question 28

Acquisition

Answer 28

The first stage of learning. Learning a behavior and pairing it with a cue.

Question 29

Modeling

Answer 29

Physical guidance to help get a dog into position or to create a behavior.

Question 30

Targeting

Answer 30

A learning model that uses an object that an animal has been taught to touch with a certain part of their body. This can be used as a tool to position the dog.

Question 31

Counter conditioned stimulus

Answer 31

A behavior therapy that uses classical conditioning to evoke new revoke new responses to stimuli that are causing unwanted behaviors.

Question 32

Pros and cons of capturing

Answer 32

Pros - can be a great way to increase the likelihood of a behavior
Cons - one must be ready to capture the behavior even when not ready to train

Question 33

Unconditioned response

Answer 33

A reflexive response to a particular stimuli.

Question 34

Pros and cons of modeling

Answer 34

Pros - can be helpful for a stoic dog that is not offering behaviors
Cons - dog isn’t learning, can start relying on physical contact, can be seen as aversive which poisons the cue

Question 35

How does classical conditioning work?

Answer 35

A neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to create a conditioned stimulus and response

Question 36

Pros and cons of targeting

Answer 36

Pros - Versatile, can be added to create more difficult behaviors
Cons - some dogs don’t like using nose and paws

Question 37

Eustress

Answer 37

Good stress

Question 38

Eustress

Answer 38

Good stress that energizes and helps to reach a goal

Question 39

Generalization

Answer 39

Training the dog to understand that they will be rewarded for performing the behavior no matter what environment they are in

Question 40

Discrimination

Answer 40

Training the dog that the cue for the behavior needs to be present for the reward to follow

Question 41

The 5 Ds

Answer 41

Duration, distraction, distance, diversity, difficulty

Question 42

Learned helplessness

Answer 42

When a dog has learned they are incapable of escaping punishment and cease offering behaviors.

Question 43

What did thorndikes law of effect show about learning?

Answer 43

Consequences drive behavior choices. Behaviors are more likely to repeat if followed by satisfying consequences

Question 44

Single event learning

Answer 44

Learning that occurs when something happens suddenly, that is not related to anything else. A stimulus causes a response. Usually loud noises, movement

Question 45

The limbic system

Answer 45

The part of our brain involved in behavioral and emotional responses. When activated the cerebral cortex cannot function. We override this with food

Question 46

Habituation

Answer 46

A decrease in the strength of a naturally elicited behavior that occurs through repeated presentations of the elicited stimulus

Question 47

4 behavioral systems

Answer 47

Fear, submission, investigation, play